"Either way, aren't they going to get beaten up!?"
Scott was stomping his feet in anger. Other people's Servants, if not helping their Masters shoulder the pressure, would at least stand firmly by their side. So why was it that when it came to him, his Assassin was just constantly making sarcastic remarks about him?
This made Scott seriously wonder, "Assassin, don't tell me you've been bought by the enemy?"
Assassin rolled his eyes in exasperation, crossing his arms as he retorted sarcastically, "Master, please don't project your own style of conduct onto me. I have professional ethics, you know."
"Then why are you just standing there making snide comments!?"
Assassin chuckled twice. It wasn't that he didn't want to help, but he had come to understand just how powerful the enemy was.
He wasn't like those other three Servants from out of town. He was a local of Penacony and had learned about Fu Zhu from Old Oti. A double Emanator of [Finality] and [Harmony].
That was an Emanator! Not some random cat or dog off the street. Even if he had gained power he'd never possessed before by becoming a Servant through the Holy Grail, there was no way he could ever win against an Emanator. That's why he had said the outcome was already decided.
However, he had no intention of losing so anticlimactically. At the very least, he would be a proper villain! He had to cause a little trouble for the protagonist, not let him pass the stage so easily. That would be too embarrassing for the villain's side!
"Master, I have a plan. Come, lend me your ear."
---o---
Meanwhile, Fu Zhu and the others arrived at the intersection before the Grand Theater. The next step was to simply climb the stairs to reach their destination. However, their path was blocked by a single, very conspicuous television set placed on the steps.
Xing pointed a finger at the TV on the stairs and turned to Saber beside her to give an order.
"Saber, chop it for me."
"Yes, Master."
Saber raised her sword and swung horizontally, but the television, as if it had grown eyes, flinched backward just as the attack was about to land.
The originally dark screen lit up, and a cartoon avatar of Scott appeared on it.
"As expected of a bunch of Nameless vagrants! You have no class at all! Who sees something on the side of the road and just tries to smash it!?"
Xing crossed her arms and walked up to the TV with a sneer.
"Would a normal person put a TV on the stairs leading to the Grand Theater? The Hound Family would have moved it long ago. Isn't it obvious this is a trap?"
"That's right!"
Scott, his plot exposed, wasn't angry at all. Instead, he laughed triumphantly.
"As expected of the Devil's sister, you're pretty sharp! But have you considered that since I dared to place the TV here so blatantly, it means that the moment you walked here, you already fell into my trap!"
Scott on the TV suddenly burst into a maniacal laugh. With the television as the epicenter, a dark red curtain rapidly spread out, enveloping everyone.
By the time they came to their senses, they found themselves in a corridor of The Reverie Hotel. However, looking at the tightly shut doors and the labyrinthine hallways stretching in all directions, it was clear this "hotel" was Scott's trap.
[Old Bro, what's the plan?]
Just as Xing finished her sentence, she realized she hadn't made a sound. The words she had just spoken had instead appeared in the form of subtitles.
Everyone else noticed this as well. They each tried to speak and, just like Xing, found that they couldn't produce any sound. Their spoken words automatically turned into subtitles.
Fu Zhu also tried to say something and found himself unable to speak.
He glanced at his status bar and saw a new entry: [State: Mime].
[Old Bro, what do we do? Do you have an upper, middle, and lower strategy?]
Realizing this was the enemy's trap, Xing immediately looked to Fu Zhu. She had already grown accustomed to him acting as her external brain; all she had to do was fight. Although, when it came to fighting, she wasn't as strong as her Old Bro either.
[Of course, the three strategies are always on hand. But right now, my super brain is telling me it's time to use super strength. Rider, by my second Command Spell, I order you: unleash your Noble Phantasm and blow this place to kingdom come.]
Rider, who was standing nearby, was stunned when she heard Fu Zhu's words. Was this really something that required a Command Spell? It made it seem as if she never listened to her Master!
Rider raised her hand and began to release her Noble Phantasm. The massive form of the Hyperion directly crushed and collapsed the surrounding rooms.
Seeing Rider begin to unleash her Noble Phantasm, Boothill couldn't help but shout.
[Hey, buddy, we're all still in here! Don't you know explosions are even more powerful in a confined space!? If you're planning on loving us all to death, just say so! No need to take yourself out with us!]
[Look at you, getting all worked up.]
Fu Zhu casually tossed out a pile of blocks, encasing everyone inside, and then nodded at Rider.
Receiving the command, Rider immediately ordered the Hyperion to fire, and a massive amount of energy began to gather.
Just then, Scott appeared in the hallway with a group of minions. He had planned to take advantage of Fu Zhu and his group being caught in the Assassin's trap to teach them a lesson. But the moment he appeared, he was greeted by a very familiar scene. The massive cannon of the Hyperion was aimed right at him, as if it were saying...
"Smile for the camera."
Boom!
With a heaven-shaking explosion, the barrier that had enveloped Fu Zhu and the others was shattered. The Assassin, who had been hiding in the shadows, felt the "death" of his Master, and the corner of his mouth couldn't help but twitch.
"No... I considered all sorts of scenarios for defeat, but I never imagined my Master would be the first to die. I didn't even get to show my face before making my exit!"
With a trace of unwillingness, Assassin let out a long sigh. Having lost his Master, his supply of magical power was cut off. It was only a matter of time before he disappeared.
---o---
After the tremors subsided, Fu Zhu dismantled the stone walls surrounding them. Outside was no longer the hotel corridor; they had returned to the spot where they first encountered the television.
"The domain has been broken."
Fu Zhu said casually, realizing he was able to speak normally again.
With the obstacle gone, the group scanned their surroundings. Fu Zhu even checked his minimap but found no sign of Scott or any other enemies nearby.
"That's weird, where's Scott? Did he just trap us in that domain and then leave us alone?"
Fu Zhu was completely baffled. He didn't intend to just wait around, though. Since Scott wouldn't come to them, he would go to Scott. After all, he had to challenge him to win.
Xing, fearing Fu Zhu was being careless, reminded him from the side.
"Old Bro, maybe he's plotting some other dirty trick."
Fu Zhu nodded, deeply convinced. Scott was indeed that kind of person. He then turned to Rider, a flicker of eagerness in his eyes.
"Rider, how about I give you a location, and you just blast the Holy Grail over there directly?"
Rider: ?
The other Servants: ???